Tsunami disaster – countries in crisis

Real lives

Children tell their stories of surviving tsunamis

Oat

© UNICEF Thailand/2004

Oat, 3

TAKUA PA, PHANG-NGA, Thailand, 4 January 2005 - Three-year-old Oat was enjoying breakfast with his mother when the killer tidal waves slammed into his village of Baan Nam Kem on 26 December.

“I was home alone with my child when the waves hit,” recalls Oat’s mom. “My husband is a fisherman was out at sea. When I saw the waves coming, I quickly grabbed Oat and ran as fast as I could. The huge waves were rolling in after me and I hoped it wouldn’t get to me because I can’t swim. It was OK if I died, but I didn’t want my child to die. He is still so young.”

Unfortunately, she was unable to outrun the surging wave. It caught up with her and swallowed her, along with Oat. “At that moment, I remembered struggling so hard for my life. I collected all my strength and sprang myself up from the water. There, I saw some people sitting on a car roof and asked them to take my child. They pulled us both out of the water and onto the roof,” recalls Oat’s mom of the ordeal.

She continues: “The roof wasn’t high enough. Before the third wave hit, I managed to climb up a tree and hold on. The water came up as high as my waist, and Oat slipped from my hand. I was so terrified at that second because I thought I would lose him forever. I quickly snatched him out of the torrent flow of water, and had him sit upon my shoulders and neck. When the water receded, I remained in the tree until a small rescue boat came by and collected us. It was such a horrible experience.”

The nightmare wasn’t yet over. Oat suffered severe lung infection from swallowing seawater. “He had a very high fever. His body turned yellow and he had to be admitted to a hospital. I was so worried about him. Fortunately, he slowly recovered and eventually got out of danger.” says the mother, looking lovingly at her son who was playing nearby.

“Although he’s getting better physically, he is still frightened and shocked with what happened. His body muscles often twitch. My husband and I have decided to move to Ranong to live with our relatives once Oat is out of the hospital. We do not want to live in Baan Nam Kem anymore. It is not safe. Who knows whether another huge tidal wave will strike again.”

Ing

© UNICEF Thailand/2004

Ing, 11

Eleven-year-old Ing isn’t sure how she feels after surviving the tsunami disaster that hit the western coast of Thailand on 26 December 2004.

The tidal waves not only swallowed her whole native village of Baan Nam Kem, but also the life of her loving aunt, who had taken care of her after her parents’ separation. Another aunt is missing and has yet to be found.

“What happened really saddens me. I cry until I have no more tears. The only reminders of them that I could find in the debris were one of their blouses and a watch,” says Ing sadly.

“On the day of the disaster, I was staying with my grandmother in a nearby village. I got very scared when I saw the wave. It was as tall as the tops of the pine trees. When it hit, I thought my grandmother and I were going to die. Luckily, a pick-up truck stopped and picked us up. Everyone in the car was crying in fear. We finally made it to the top of the mountain safely,” she said, still looking frightened.

“My house was completely damaged. I do not have the courage to go back and live there again, let alone to swim in the sea, although I’ve heard some tourists already do. I’m afraid that such a terrible thing might happen again.”

Ing is now staying at a temporary shelter in the Takua Pa District Administration Office with some of her relatives She is waiting for her mother who lives in another district to come and collect her. At the same time, she looks forward to going back to school. “I want to go back to study, and only hope that my school will reopen soon. The exam is approaching. When I finish grade 6, I will then go to live with my mum and pursue a higher education.”

Diew

© UNICEF Thailand/2004

Diew, 3

“Diew was at a neighbor’s when the first wave was about to hit. I heard people shouting “RUN - RUN”, so I quickly went to the neighbor’s to get him. Unfortunately, the wave got me at the same second I managed to get hold of him. I got injured and we were separated,” recalls Diew’s 28-year-old mother, Suparat.

“While I was frantically looking for him, the second wave attacked. Fortunately, I managed to escape this time. If it had got me, I would have died because I was so tired and weak.”

“After the disaster was over, my husband and I searched for him everyday until we gave up on his survival. We wanted to find his body at least. I cried and couldn’t sleep. I just wanted to find him.”

“On 28 December, I was informed about his finding. I was so happy to hear that, but thought he might have been dead. Yet they said he was alive! I was - I don’t know how to describe it - so happy! I cried again.”

Isolated in the dark forest alone for three days, Diew - covered in mosquito bites - was still in brave spirit, though terribly weak. “He was asking for snacks and coca-cola when the rescuers found him. He wasn’t seriously injured, only suffering from scratches and mosquito bites. It was such a miracle! I never expected he would survive with minimal injuries from such a catastrophe,” says the happy mother.

“He told me he missed me and his father while he was alone in the mangrove forest. He was scared of darkness and called for help, but no one heard him. When he saw someone coming, he tried to make a movement so that he would be noticed. It worked.”

“I ask him if he is now scared of water. He says no, and wants to swim. His survival makes me over the moon,” smiles Suparat. “Unlike him, I am scared and don’t want to go back to live in the same area that was hit by tidal waves.”

Diew has been under the media spotlight since his rescue. He has become a little hero to thousands of survivors. Everyone calls him as an “iron man.” He is indeed.